Envelope-opening machine



Feb. 26, 1929.

A. J. KEISER ENvELoPE OPENING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1925 2 She ets-Sheet IN V EN TOR.

flab ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 26, 1929.

A. J. KEISER ENVELOPE OPENING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1925 2 Sheets$heet W J Airmer BY mm INVENTQR Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR .1. xmsnn, or ROCHESTER, NEWYOBK, assume; no Tnniamqann 00,, ma,

7 ornocflnsrnn, NEW YORK.

ENvnLorE-ormzmo Application filed March 10, 1925. Soriar No. 14 ,528.

The present invention relates to envelope opening machines and an object thereof is to. provide a simple and inexpensive construction which utilizes a motor for operating the cutting mechanism. Another object of the invention is to provide a. simple and inexpensive construction which will permit envelopes to be fed easily by a hand'of a user past the cutting mechanism. Another'obj'ect ofvthe 1 invention is to provide a construction in which a rotary cutter is mounted directly upon the shaft of a rotary motor whose axis of turning is arranged at an angle to the plane of the bottom of the machine. Another '15 object of the invention is to provide an envelope opening machine in which one of two cutters is arranged on the shaft of a rotary motor and the other of said cutters is held yieldingly toward the'first mentioned cutter.

to maintain proper cutting relation between the cutters, and, at the same time, prevent vaxial movement of the motor shaft. A still further object of the invention is to provide an envelope opening machine having two cutters and a guide associated with such machine formed by two parts at an angleto each other, other than a right angle. Still a further object of the invention is to provide an envelope machine with a table having a guide flange at the rear edge thereof at an angle to the plane of the table other than a right angle, to form a guide groove, the table and the guide flange being cut to provide an opening in which the cutting mechanism operates. A still further object of the invention is'to provide a housing removably secured to the base frame of the machineto enclose a cutter or the cutting mechanism, said housing acting also as a support for the guide for the envelopes.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be hereinafter dcscribcd the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: V

Fig. 1 is a top view of the machine showing the same shifted so that the axis of the motor is horizontal;

Fig. 2 is a front'view of the machine shifted as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine in normal position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing parts in section onthe line 4-4, Fig. 2;

. and in front of the motor.

Fig. 5 is a detail viewof the combined surface 1 on which the base 2 of. a motor frame 4 may be bolted as at 3. The motor, in

this instance, is a rotary motor and preferably an electric motor. Its axis of rotation is at an angle tothe horizontal or to the plane of the bottom of the base 1. The shaft 5 extends through an opening 6 formed in an inchned extension 7 at the front of frame 4 This inclined extension 7 has its front face aligned with the frontface 8 of the main portion of the base, so that a substantially plane surface is provided extending over the front of the base and the front of the extension 7.

The cutting mechanism of the machine embodies, in this instance, two rotary or beveled disk-shaped cutters 9 and 10. The cutter 9 is secured, in this instance, to the shaft 5 of the motor 4 infront of the extension 7 and has its bevelled edge facing outwardly and its axis at an angle to the plane of the bottom of the base or to the horizontal, The cutter 1 0 cooperates with the rear face of this 7 cutter 9 and is supported on the base below the cutter 9, the axis of the cutter 10 bein at an angle to the horizontal plane of the ttom of the base and being in a vertical plane with the axis of the cutter'19. In this instance, the cutter 10 is secured to a shaft 11 which extends into a pocket hearing 12 formed in the base 1 below the extension 7 this pocket bearing also containing a helical spring 13 which seats against the bottom of the pocket and also against the shaft 11 tending to hold the cutter 10 in yielding engagement with the rear face of the cutter 9, main taming proper cutting relation between the I two cutters and, at the same time, tmding to prevent any axial movement of the motor e ft 5.

Suitable means is employed for guiding the envelopes proper cutting relation to the cutters. In this instance,.this means embodiefl a table 14 whose plane is at an angle to the plane of bottom of the fans or the horizontal and is preferably with thogxis of rotation of the two cutters. At the rear parts. At the corner between the flangeand the table, an opening 16 is provided in both parts in which the cutters 9 and 10 operate. This opening has two oppositely extending lugs 17 and 18 arranged at opposite sides thereof so as to extend into the recesses formed between the two cutters. Thelug or proj ection 17 conducts the envelopes to the meeting edges of the cutters, while the lug or "projection 18 is deflected rearwardly so that the envelopes after passing the cutters will not contact with the end thereof, but will strike the grooved inclined surface andbe redirected to the main guide groove of. the lugs 18 formed between thefiange and the table 14.

Any suitable means may be employed for "supporting the table. and the guide flange. In this instance, a bracket is employed which has a lower portion 19 in the form of a housing opening in its rear lower cutter, being secured to the front wall of the base 8 by bolts 20. Projecting from the upper part of this house is an arm 21 which extends forwardly and is secured to the underside of the table 14. In this instance, two screws 22 are employed, said screws being fastened to the table 14 and extending downwardly" through the underside thereof through two openings in the arm 21, their lower ends being engaged by thumb nuts 23. One of the openings through which the bolts or screws 22 project is slightly enlarged so that by loosening the nuts 23, the table and guide may be shifted laterally in order to establish proper guiding relation to the cutters. lhis is due to the fact that the screws 22 lie on opposite sides of the vertical plane through the axis of both the cutters.

The upper cutter 9 may be enclosed by a housing 24 secured by bolts 25 to the front face of the extension 7, the lower part of this housing being open and the front wall thereof cooperating with the rearsurface of the guide 15. The housings 19 and 2st are recessed respectively at 19 and 2%to provide anopening through which the pieces out off the envelopes maybe discharged.

In using this invention, after the machine is properly adjusted and the motor started, the envelopes are taken one by one, are laid by hand upon the table 14; in advance of the cutters with an edge of the envelope to be opened at the groove or corner formed between the flange 15 and the table 14, and are moved along the groove until the entire envelope has passed the-cutters. This removes from the envelope a small strip and opens necessity of complicated gearin end inclosing the the same. 1 Owing to the fact that the guide flange 15 is at an angle other than a right angle to the plane of the table and overhangs the latter, the groove formed at the corner between the two tends to compress one edge of the envelope to put it in condition for opening by the cutters, and the contents of the envelopesare held back to some extent away from the'cutters.

A machine constructed in accordance with this invention is inexpensive to manufacture. The table is arrangedso that it lies in such a position that the hand may be utilized for feeding the envelopes past the cutters. The cutters are drivenby arotary motor'without g, one of the cutters being directly arranged upon the shaft of the motor and the other being driven by frictional contacttherewith. The cutter on thc'motor shaft is held against longitudinal movement by a spring which tends to maintain the lower cutter also in proper cutting relation to the motor; drivencutter. A novel support for the table is provided whic also acts as a housing for the lower cutter. The housing for the upper cutter cooperates with the flange of thetable to provide a complete enclosure for the cutter. The table and flange are formedfrom one piece of sheet metal bent to form the two parts and the cutters operate at the bend or corner formed between such parts, the metal being cut to provide an opening which has two projections extending toward each other to operate in spaces between the cutters adjacent their meeting edges. Bothof these projections form extensions of the guide groove and one is deflected rearwardly so asv not to interfere with the movement of theenvelope past the cutters.

-What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. A machine for opening envelopes comllSlIl a base lJWO I'Ottll cutters lllOLlIltGtl to turn on the base, a guide for directing envelopes past the cutters and having two portions arranged at an angle other than a right angle to each other, and twodetachable housings, one for each of the cutters, one of said housings connecting with one of the portions of said guide to support said guide, and the other housing cooperating with the other portion of said guide to close the space between the guide and the housing.

2. A machine for opening envelopes comprising a base having'a notor supporting portion at an angle to the plane of the bottom' of said base and an extension at the front of the base with its front wall in a line with the front wall of the base, the front wall of the extension and the base forming a surface at an angle to the plane of the bottom of the base and substantially at right angles to the inclinedmotor'supporting portion first mentioned, the extension having an opening,

a rotary motor supported on the motor supporting portion of the base'and having a shaft extending through the opening, a cutter mounted on said shaft in front of the extension, a second rotary cutter cooperating with the first mentioned rotary cutter and arranged in front of the base, a guide for directing envelopes past the cutters, and means for housing the cutters supporting said guides and detaohably secured tothe front walls of the base and said extension.

3. A machine for opening envelopes comprising two rotary cutters and a guide for directing envelopes past the cutters, embodying two parts'arranged at an angle one to the other, other than a right angle, said guide having at the junction an opening in which the cutters operate, the opposite ends of the opening being provided with tongues extending into spaces between the two cutters adjacent the meeting edges.

4:. A machine for opening envelopes coinprising two rotary cutters and a guide for directing envelopes past the cutters embodying two parts arranged at an angle one to the other, other than a ri ht angle, said guide having at the junction an opening in which the cutters operate, the opposite ends of the opening being provided with tongues extending into spaces between the two cutters adjacent the meeting edges, one of said tongues being deflected rearwardly.

5. A machine for opening envelopes comprising a base having a motor supporting portion and an upward extension in front of the motor supporting portion provided with an opening, a rotary motor having a casing bolted to the upper face of the motor supporting portion and having a shaft extending through the opening, a cutter mounted on the shaft in front of the extension, :1 Second rotary cutter mounted on the base below said shaft and cooperating with the first named cutter, two housings detachably secured to the base over the two cutters, and a guide for the envelope supported between the two housings in cooperative relation with both cutters.

6. A machine for opening envelopes comprising a base having its bottom portion formed to rest upon a supporting surface to sustain the machine in operative position, a table supported on said base at an'angle to the plane of the bottom of said base, a guide flange connected with the table and lying at an angle other than a right angle to the horizontal plane of the base to form with the table a uide at the junction of the table and the guide flange, said guide having an opening at the junction of the table and the flange, and cutting mechanism operating through said opening.

7. A machine for opening envelopescomprising a base having its bottom portion formed to rest upon a supporting surface to sustain the machine in operative position, a table arranged at an angle other than a right angle to said base, a'flange having connection with the table to form a guide, said flange lying at an angle other thana right angle to the horizontal plane of the base, the guide being provided with an opening at the junction of the table and the flange, a'nd'two rotary cutters mounted to turn about two axes parallel with the table and on opposite sides thereof, said axes being inclined with reference to the horizontal plane of the bottom of the base.

ARTHUR J. KEISER. 

